Scotland Photography Workshop 2017

Your instructor and guide - Gavin Hardcastle

Join my 7 day Scotland Photography Workshop in October 2017 and I'll share with you my favourite shooting locations. If you have a passion for ethereal landscapes, the Isle of Skye boasts some of the most mysterious and magical places you're ever likely to see. Rich in history and culture, the Isle of Skye in the Scottish Highland will capture your heart like no other place on earth.

Not only does this workshop take us to Skye but the journey to the island is just as beautiful. With shoots at 'The Devils Pulpit', Kilchurn Castle and the historic Glencoe, you'll experience and photograph the legendary beauty of Scotland before we even get to Skye.

The Road to Skye - Scotland Photography Workshop

This 7 day photography workshop in Scotland will be equal parts visual feast and cultural experience. Accommodation, breakfasts and transportation to all shoots is provided.

I'll show you how I photograph historic castles, landscapes, waterfalls and mind blowing Scottish coastline.

Only 5 Participants on this Isle of Skye Photography Workshop

I'm making this a pretty exclusive workshop with only 5 participants. I'll be doing all the driving to and from our shoots and accommodation. I've found that 5 students is a comfortable number and makes for a fun group.

In this Workshop we'll cover the following topics and techniques:

How to shoot for High Dynamic Range

Advanced Composition

Landscape Photography

Understand Depth of Field

How to get Super Sharp Landscape Images

How to shoot waterfalls

What's Included?

7 Nights of Accommodation

Breakfasts

Photography Tuition

Transportation to and from all shooting locations

Park Entrance Fees

Itinerary

Students get themselves to Glasgow for pickup. I advise staying one night in a hotel near the airport before the workshop. The Holiday Inn Express at Glasgow Aiport should suffice for most peoples needs. I will collect all 5 students from their hotels on the morning of October 17th which is when the workshop begins.

Day 1 - October 17th - Glasgow Morning Collection

Shoot 1 - Finnich Glen - 'The Devils Pulpit'.

Prepare for your descent into the strange underworld of Finnich Glen where the river runs red and the walls glow green.

Shoot 2 - Kilchurn Castle Sunset in Inverary

Our first shoot at this historic castle ruin on the shores of Loch Awe will leave you spellbound.

Day 2 - October 18th - Inverary to Glencoe

Shoot 3 - Kilchurn Castle Sunrise

Our second shot at Kilchurn Castle gives us a chance of capturing some morning mist and if we're lucky rainbows. Mornings also give us a better chance of witnessing calmer waters for reflections of the beautiful castle ruins.

Shoot 4 - The Hogwarts Express

Even if you're not a Harry Potter fan, the magnificent steam train over the Glenfinnan Viaduct is a sight to behold. I'll take to to the perfect viewpoint to capture a shot of the train in all it's glory.

Shoot 5 - Buachaille Etive Mor Waterfall in Glencoe

Glencoe is one of the most historically significant locations in Scotland. We'll take in the sights of the Glen and visit the spectacular falls under the shadow of Buachaille Etive Mor.

Day 3 - October 19th - Glencoe to Skye

Shoot 6 - Glen Etive Sunrise

For the sunrise we travel to a secluded loch in Glen Etive where we'll be waiting for gorgeous mountain reflections in the loch.

Shoot 7 - Eilean Donan Castle Sunset

The quintessential Scottish castle image awaits. We arrive at Eilean Donan Castle just in time for sunset where we hope to catch the spectacular light show of the setting sun and blue hour.

Day 4 - October 20th - Isle of Skye

Shoot 8 - The Old Man of Storr Sunrise

A visit to Skye is incomplete without making the hike up to the Old Man of Storr. Not only is the view spectacular in its own right but as a backdrop to the Old Man of Storr it's like a scene out of a Tolkien novel. It doesn't get any better than this. If you don't feel up to the hike you can still get beautiful images of The Old Man of Storr from the base of the hill, just like this one below

Shoot 9 - Elgol Sunset

For sunset, we travel to the South West coast where we'll capture the rugged beauty of the beach at Elgol. With the dramatic Cuillin mountains in the distance and otherworldly rock formations on the beach you'll be spoiled for compositional choices.

Day 5 - October 21st - Isle of Skye

Shoot 10 - Sunrise at The Quiraing

Being on 'The Quiraing' is like being on another planet. The jutting rock formations and sinking meadows make for a dreamlike landscape that I can't compare to any other place on earth. When the morning light hits this landscape it begins to glow and reveal fascinating details to those who wait.

Shoot 11 - Afternoon Shoot at the Fairy Pools

If you like photographing waterfalls you'll be in heaven. There are so many waterfalls at Glen Brittle that you won't know what to do with yourself. I'll show you the best of the 'Fairy Pools'.

Day 6 - October 22nd - Enchanted Skye

Shoot 12 - The Fairy Glen Sunrise

There are few places that offer the enchanted beauty of 'The Fairy Glen' with it's stone circles, crenelated hillocks and bizarre rock structures. Take a moment to stop a listen and you might just hear the voices of the fairies.

Shoot 13 - Neist Point Lighthouse Sunset

Neist Point offers some of the most dramatic cliff faces on the planet. With the lighthouse perched precariously on the edge of the cliffs and facing into the North Atlantic Ocean, it's about as dramatic a scene as you can imagine.

Day 7 - October 23rd - Skye to Glencoe

Shoot 14 - Sunrise at Eilean Donan Castle

Today we leave the Isle of Skye but we get our final crack at Eilean Donan Castle under morning light which offers completely different compositions to the sunset shoot.

Shoot 15 - Midday Shoot at Glencoe - Reflections on the River

Any time of day can offer great light in Scotland during October. I'll show you one of my favourite spots on the river where we'll go hunting for reflections of the impressive Buachaille Etive Mor

After our last Glencoe shoot we drive back to Glasgow for a farewell dinner, fond goodbyes, drinks and laughs.

Fitness Requirements

Most of our shooting locations require very little hiking except for the hike to the 'Old Man of Storr' which takes about 1 hr up a steep hill. This is optional and you can still capture great shots at the start of the trail if you don't feel up to the hike. Everything else is a short stroll from the car.

What's Not Included

Food

Drinks

Flights

Equipment

Insurance - It is MANDATORY to insure yourself against physical injury. I also advise that you insure your photographic equipment. Tour leaders will not be responsible in the event of any personal injuries or damage to photographic gear as a result of an accident during the workshop.

WHAT TO BRING

Photography Equipment and Accessories

A digital camera. Don't forget your memory cards and charger.

A sturdy tripod, ideally with a ball head.

Recommended: Wide angle lens, mid-long range zoom.

Recommended: A polarizing filters.

Recommended: A camera remote.

A laptop is needed for the image post processing sessions

Many spare batteries for your camera.

Good hiking boots

A camera rain cover.

Waterproof jacket and extra footwear.

Lens wipes.

Power outlet adapters for UK plug sockets

Accommodation

We'll be staying in 3 star accommodation that has everything we need. We'll be spending hardly any time in our hotel rooms so it's really just a place to safely store our belongings, take showers, sleep, recharge our batteries and eat a delicious Scottish breakfast.